On the demand made by ‘Right to Love’, an organisation working for love rights, the government of Maharashtra has issued an order on December 19, 2023 instructing district collectors to start safe houses in every district for the safety of inter-caste and inter-faith couples in Maharashtra and to prevent crimes related to honour killing. Speaking with Pune Mirror, Right to Love Organisation member Vikas Shinde said, “We have been working on love rights for eight years in Maharashtra.
We had approached the chairperson of the state commission of women Rupali Chakankar and the chief secretary, Women and Child Development Department (WCD), Government of Maharashtra in December 2022, on behalf of Right to Love, with a demand that according to the 2018 decision of the Supreme Court, ‘safe houses’ should be established in the state, on the lines of Haryana and Punjab in the Shakti Vahini v/s government of India case, for the safety of inter-caste and interreligious love marriage couples and to prevent crimes related to honor killing.”
Shinde added, “The demand has been successful and the state government has issued a circular on December 19, 2023 instructing district collectors to start safe houses in every district for the safety of intercaste and inter-religious couples in Maharashtra.” “A committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the district collector, with members, commissioner of police, social justice and WCD department who will take necessary measures on complaints from couples who have had a love marriage, for their lodging and boarding and police protection.
The government will take full responsibility for their stay and security,” Shinde said. Responding to Mirror’s query, Shinde said that because of the threat perspective, the safe houses will not be in an isolated area, but will be located close to police stations or women’s safety organisations. “We will approach the commissioner of police in a few days to submit a representation and to gauge their response time for complaints.” Former corporator Rupali Patil told Pune Mirror, “This is long overdue and a very welcome move by the state government.
In spite of inter caste and faith marriages being valid and solemnised as per the comprehensive rules of the marriage act, where the man should be 21 years old and the woman 18 years, and there should be mutual consent among other stipulations, family members who are unhappy with the decision cause grievous harm or put to death their own kith and kin and blood relative.” Patil added, “The safe houses project should be implemented immediately and strongly with due diligence by concerned officials and ministers of the relevant department or it will remain on paper and gather dust.” WCD officer on special duty Shirish Jadhav said, “Safe houses for couples is a positive and good move.
We manage issues related to women and children under WCD. For a woman who is part of an interfaith or caste marriage, or for that matter any woman who is out of their home and has no support and is under threat, for women’s protection, we do have safe houses in every district managed by a WCD officer and a ZP deputy CO.” Jadhav said, “Chairperson Chakankar wants such safe houses built where they are not available in talukas to provide protection to women. There are several instances where not only men but even women are harmed.” Deputy chairperson of Maharashtra Legislative Council, Neelam Gorhe told Pune Mirror, “I welcome the decision taken by the home department on December 19, 2023.
We are going through a period of social and cultural transformation for which we need legal support.” She added, “If people who oppose such marriages are put under surveillance, they will not take wrong decisions. A reform has to be introduced so that the atmosphere is not hostile and people should not be allowed to punish somebody as per their whims by taking law into their hands. It is good that members of the social kalyan department and WCD are involved in the process but they should be in the forefront and there should be counselling sessions with SOPs on how cases can be dealt with sensitivity.” Chairperson of state women’s commission Rupali Chakankar was not available for comment.
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